Category Archives: Edwardiana

Suffrajitsu in “De Rare Jacob” (1910)

Posted on March 3, 2026 by BartitsuSociety

A satirical response to the suffrajitsu phenomenon in this cartoon from the Dutch journal De rare Jacob (1910). The caption translates as “The suffragettes haven’t been at all shy about using their feet for jiu-jitsu—rather like how the ‘weaker,’ more … Continue reading →

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“The New Art of Self Defence: How Bartitsu Reimagined ‘Antagonistics’ in Edwardian England”

Posted on February 16, 2026 by BartitsuSociety

Now available from Amazon, this new book is a revised, updated and significantly expanded version of the “Bartitsu Story” section of The Bartitsu Compendium, Vol. III (2022). As the third volume of the Compendium was a bookshelf-busting 629 large-format pages, … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Antagonistics, Biography, Boxing, Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Edwardiana, Exhibitions, Fencing, Hooliganism, Jiujitsu, Physical Culture, Pop-culture, Savate, Vigny stick fighting, Wrestling | Comments Off on “The New Art of Self Defence: How Bartitsu Reimagined ‘Antagonistics’ in Edwardian England”

Parisian Street-Fighting in “J’accuse” (2019)

Posted on January 9, 2026 by BartitsuSociety

A brief but effective fight scene, showcasing la canne and la boxe, from the 2019 movie J’accuse (also released as An Officer and a Spy).

Posted in Antagonistics, Boxing, Edwardiana, Fiction, Video | Comments Off on Parisian Street-Fighting in “J’accuse” (2019)

Antique Vigny self-defence cane discovered

Posted on October 7, 2025 by BartitsuSociety

Thanks to antique dealer Rob Phillips for these photos of an antique Vigny cane; the first such example known to have been located in the history of the modern revival. The cane is labelled VIGNY’S “SELF DEFENCE” STICK 18. BERNERS … Continue reading →

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“Les Apaches: the Gangster Chic of Belle Époque Paris”

Posted on March 11, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

An early heads-up that Tony Wolf will be giving a live Zoom lecture on the “Apache chic” craze of the early 20th century: At the turn of the 20th century, the exploits and styles of Parisian Apache (pronounced Ah-pahsh) street … Continue reading →

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“Titan of the Thames: The Life of Lord Desborough”

Posted on February 12, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Recommended reading is this brand-new biography of William Grenfell, Lord Desborough, whose many athletic and public service accomplishments included some intriguing associations with Bartitsu. Grenfell was the Master of Ceremonies at Edward Barton-Wright’s famous Bartitsu exhibition at the London Bath … Continue reading →

Posted in Bartitsu School of Arms, Biography, Edwardiana | Comments Off on “Titan of the Thames: The Life of Lord Desborough”

“The Attila Gym, Volume One”

Posted on February 1, 2024 by BartitsuSociety

Author David Naimowicz’s book The Attila Gym Volume 1: Reconstructing the Original Method of Professor Louis Attila is currently available via Amazon: This volume is the author’s best attempt to assemble the light and heavy system, its principles, mechanics, repetitions … Continue reading →

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Some “new” and unusual snippets of Bartitsu history

Posted on November 25, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

According to an item in the Morning Leader of Tuesday, 29 November 1898, the entertainments for an upcoming charity bazaar were scheduled to include: Mr. E. W. Barton- Wright (who) will on Friday and Saturday give a demonstration of Bartitsu, … Continue reading →

Posted in Canonical Bartitsu, E. W. Barton-Wright, Edwardiana, Exhibitions | Comments Off on Some “new” and unusual snippets of Bartitsu history

“Mrs. Pankhurst’s Bodyguard: On the Trail of ‘Kitty’ Marshall and the Met Police ‘Cats'”

Posted on April 25, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

Self-defence historian Emelyne Godfrey’s long-awaited new book is now available from Barnes and Noble and other booksellers. Some of the most extraordinary narratives of the radical women’s suffrage movement are those of the Bodyguard – a secret society of martial … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Antagonistics, Biography, Edwardiana, Jiujitsu, Suffrajitsu | Comments Off on “Mrs. Pankhurst’s Bodyguard: On the Trail of ‘Kitty’ Marshall and the Met Police ‘Cats'”

Antique English jujutsu gi discovered

Posted on March 21, 2023 by BartitsuSociety

Thanks to David Brough for passing along these images of an extremely rare antique English jujutsu gi, which was discovered inside a suitcase in an English antiques shop. The suitcase also contained a 4th-edition copy of the Text-Book of Ju-Jitsu, … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Edwardiana, Jiujitsu, Physical Culture | Comments Off on Antique English jujutsu gi discovered